Siliguri, Mahadarat and Jaldhapara Wildlife Sanct.
Trip Start
Jun 26, 2006
1
43
55
Trip End
Ongoing
Siliguri,
India
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Once we arrived, over a cup of masala chai, we decided to go to the Jaldhapara Wildlife Sanctuary, where we read we could see Rhino's,and if we were lucky enough, maybe a Bengal Tiger. A 4 hour local bus, kept us on our toes, gripping for our lives. Since then, we have found that this is a normal day of travelling in India. It keeps you ghasping, and thankful for your life when you get off the bus!
We arrived in the small town of Mahadarat where we stayed at a lodge (or cabin in our case). We booked a car safari for that evening for $2.50 a person. We were lucky enough to have a few up close and personals with some Rhino's. Mama and baby were a bit frisky, as they didn't like our close distance. It was quite a site, very powerful moment to be this close.
After the safari, we communally ate with the Indians staying at the lodge, and engaged in some conversation with 3 kids from New Dehli.
The next morning we caught a taxi to the border of India/Bhutan. In Jaigon, we had hopes to cross the border for the day. Sadly, we were misinformed by our guide book, that read the border was open for foreiners for a day trip only, for free and no visa needed. However, we weren't able to cross. Normally it is $200/day per person to visit Bhutan. There was no reason to stay in Jaigon (a rather depressed town),
